Fragrance Favourites for S/S

Besides make-up, fragrance is my all time favourite thing to purchase wether its because they're often cased in killer packaging or because it adds a feminine touch to any look. Nothing seems to be more uplifting than spritzing on a tantalising perfume before walking out the door. Switching up your fragrance choices is the perfect segue for the transition from the winter to spring. So this is why I decided to share three of my all time favourite fragrances for the warmer months, so you can feel inspired to shake up your fragrance stash ready for spring/summer. 

First up is the MAC Turqautic fragrance (£38.50 for 50ml) that featured in my March favourites. I know what you're thinking - MAC do perfume?! Not only do they do perfume but those clever clogs at MAC headquarters have created the most amazing summer scent, cased in a gorgeous oblong-shaped cube that connotes cool underwater vibes. I spritzed this on my wrist when making a purchase at the counter and ten minutes later I was back in store, picking it up to purchase. The aquatic packaging mimics the the fragrance ingredients as it contains anemone, lotus and Corsican blue cedar to name a few. The fragrance lasts well throughout the day so rarely requires a top up and has already drawn in many compliments from others. If you are looking for a new fresh scent for this summer, I seriously recommend checking this out! 

Next up is the plenty raved about fragrance, Molecule 01 from Escentric Molecules. The innovative idea behind this product is what initially sold it to me in the first place. The fragrance is unisex so pretty much everybody in your household can use it, making the steep price tag of £65.50 for 100ml, slightly less horrifying. The main ingredient in this fragrance is the chemical iso E super, the base note that is often used to create allure in a scent. Therefore, this perfume has a unique scent for everybody meaning no two people will smell the same but they will still most definitely smell good. The undertones of this perfume are subtle and sultry but work all year round. If you purchase this bottle, you can be ensured you can wear it all day, everyday, through every single season. Therefore, it's more an investment piece, right? The only downside to this fragrance is that it is fairly difficult to smell on yourself thus giving the false conception that it's worn off yet the compliments will still be flooding in from everyone else around you. Trust me. 

Finally, is of course the number one summer fragrance in my eyes. The Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess. This only comes out once a year during summer, is incredibly limited edition and is basically summer in a bottle. A spritz of this fragrance is enough to make you crave a tropical vacation in paradise. Featuring ingredients such as coconut milk, lemon mandarin and magnolia petals, this scent is addictive. The scent is light but alluring and is enough to get anyway excited for the heat of summer. I have already written a raving review about this fragrance last summer on my blog so do go and check that out if you want to know more about what this fragrance contains. 

I would love to know your thoughts in the comments.

What are your favourite fragrances for S/S? 

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review

I am pretty sure you would have all heard of this mascara by now as when it comes to promotions, Benefit never disappoint. To say I was fairly apprehensive to try the new Benefit Roller Lash Mascara is an under-statement. I waited for the tester sized samples, that were spotted in a few magazines, to pass as I was refusing to buy into the hype. Benefit are renowned for their mascaras, wether it's their bold Bad-Girl Lash, or the reward winning They're Real. Each are amazing mascaras but two products I have always struggled with. Initially, the results were great. Bad-Gal Lash and They're Real had great offerings of amazing volume and serious length, yet the formulas were fairly dry. By the end of the day the product had often transferred either on my brow bone, or has crumbled off half way down my face - not cool! Luckily, the new Roller Lash completely excelled my expectations so no pennies wasted. From first use the mascara gave some insane length (enough for people to ask if I was wearing falsies) and lasted the whole day. I had heard mixed reviews when it came to the volume attribution so I wasn't expecting much in that field. Yet luckily again, my expectations were wrong and I still achieved good volume that made my eyes look wide and defined. The packaging is, of course, a mimic of a hair roller hence the name! It's okay and I like the rubbery texture on the end as it ensures an extra grip but I am never a huge fan of the Benefit packaging as I rather things much more simplistic. Another winning feature of Benefit's new mascara is that it is no way near as difficult to remove as its predecessors. A couple of wipes on the eye with a good cleansing gel and the product was gone. Retailing at £19.50 (currently on sale at Debenhams for only £17.55) it's not cheap but it certainly is worth it!

I would love to know your thoughts in the comments.

What are you thoughts on the Benefit mascaras?

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bettina

Never before has the declarative 'my lips but better' been more fitting than it is now. I picked up another of the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils on a whim when roaming the counters in Space.Nk. I have owned a couple of these in the past but considering they've either been completely bright or totally bold, they tend to take a backseat during S/S. This nude completely caught my eye which is strange considering I usually like my nudes to be glossy or have a slight sheen instead of matte. As you can see by the photo above, the colour is almost identical to my natural lip colour and since purchasing it, I haven't really worn anything else. I do find the formula of the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils to be fairly drying so I strongly suggest using a balm prior to application but the wear time is incredible and the colour lasted a good six hours without reapplication. The pencil feels buttery during application and practically glides on the lips, a good attribution for a matte product. If you're after a new everyday lip colour, I strongly suggest checking this one out!

Let me know what you think!

What's your favourite matte lip product? 

MAC ft Philip Treacy

I recently managed to bag a few items from the Philip Treacy collection from MAC. This was not a collection that I heard much about and wouldn't have even been aware of its existence if it wasn't for the sneaky MAC email I received in my inbox minutes after the release. Due to my sheer panic and unawareness, I picked up a few items on a whim but thank goodness I got lucky, as each item is seriously beautiful. The two winners for me are of course the highlighting powders in Nude Pink and Blush Pink. Due to my incredibly pale skin, Blush Pink would look gorgeous as a subtle bronzer with a slight glow due to the stream of silver sinner running through the powder. Nude Pink on the other hand will be a perfect, lightweight blush that adds a bit of highlight to my cheeks thus making it a good duo product. I also picked up the lipstick in Hollywood Cerise, which is an extra-pretty deep pink colour that reminds me a lot of Flat Out Fabulous but with a Satin finish. I seriously cannot get enough of these MAC collections are always find myself going crazy over any of their releases. I hope you enjoyed this short post focusing on each item I picked up.

What product takes your fancy from the MAC ft Philip Treacy collection?

OOTD| Throw On and Go

An ultra casual outfit of the day for you all. Somedays I really like to put the effort into my outfit but most days I tend to throw on whatever I feel is a good idea when I'm half asleep in the morning and go. Jeans are definitely not a staple in my wardrobe and I tend to steer clear from them to avoid any self-esteem crisis but the Topshop Joni jeans are always a great option as they're comfy but still look okay! I also picked up this oversized white shirt from Topshop which is perfect for those causal days and works well with the temperamental British weather. Boots are always my go-to footwear which is the one downside to sunny weather! I would quite happily wear boots all year round but unfortunately the sun and leather aren't really a good mix. I've completely over worn these brown boots that I found in a random shoe shop in Convent Garden which explains why they look less than proper. I have also been loving this muted-grey satchel from River Island and find it to be perfect for any outfit choice. My dog was keen to get involved in my amateur photoshoot so Purdy is looking very Roberto Cavalli-esque wearing her own fur that she grew herself.

Hope you enjoyed. Let me know what outfit choices you gravitate towards on a casual day!

The Lip Product Addict Tag

I thought I would do a light-hearted post for today after a hectic week! I have been meaning to do this tag for a long time after been tagged by numerous people and am finally getting round to it. I am a massive lip product addict (as the tag title would suggest) and wanted to share all my favourites with you. So let's get straight into it. 

1. Favourite balm/treatment?

This probably has to be the Soap & Glory A Great Kisser balm. I love the smell and love the peachy pink colour it gives on the lips and find it to be fairly nourishing also. I featured this in my top 5 lip products from the high street so check that out! 

2. Best eye-catching red?

This has to be my MAC Ruby from the Pedro Lourenco collection. Not only is the packaging absolutely gorgeous but the colour is beautiful and bold but still flattering on my pale skin. I often steer clear of blue-toned reds as I tend to find they don't really suit me so instead I opted for this shade as it was a slightly deeper and I am so glad I did!

3. Best luxury and best drugstore?

My best luxury lipsticks easily have to be from Charlotte Tilbury. Seriously, the packaging is heavenly and each and every shade is beautiful and feels great on the lips. I want to own every single colour of these! Best drugstore has to be the Topshop lipsticks. I don't know if this necessarily counts as drugstore but it's definitely 'high street'. I find these to be very similar to MAC in quality and also in options. They offer a range of colours and finishes, all of which work beautifully. If you haven't already, go and check these out! 

4. Best MAC lipstick?

This is a difficult one for me as you would know if you checked out my MAC lipstick collection  but this probably has to be my MAC Hue due to how wearable it is and how beautiful it looks for everyday wear. 

5. The most disappointing?

This has to be one of my YSL Glossy Stains in the shade 19. I am totally in love with the shade 14 and still consider it to be one of my all time favourite lip glosses. Hence why I picked up a more neutral shade for everyday wear as I thought the formula would be great. Instead, I find the pale shades to be patchy in application and the colour isn't as opaque as I initially expected it would be. If you want to try these out, I strongly urge you to steer clear of the paler shades and opt for something  more bold. 

6. Liner - yes or no?

Definitely yes! I never had been one for lip liner purely because I always had a preconceived idea of lipliner to be a thin line round your lips with a mismatching pale lipstick in the centre. Obviously, I was wrong and now own a few lipliners that I find work great either on their own as a bold matte lip colour or under a lipstick or gloss to give a stronger colour. My favourite has to be my Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk as it's a 'your lips but better' shade that draws emphasis on my lips but doesn't look too much. 

7. Best gloss?

This easily has to be my Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in 001 as it's neutral but beautiful, extra glossy and helps my lips look more plump and full. Yet, for a high street alternative, I am also in love with the Tanya Burr lipgloss in Chic which is a really lovely beige nude that has a great shine. 

8. Something extra!

This is has to be my Tom Ford Matte Lip Colour in Pussycat. I'm in love with this lipstick both for it's gorgeous simple but unique shade and of course it's extra-special packaging. This signifies the epitome of luxury to me and I am so happy I have it in my collection. 

I tag anyone who wants to do this! I hope you enjoyed this post so let me know in the comments.

What's your favourite lip products?

My MAC Lipstick Collection

Matte: Toledo Victoriana, Toledo Sin, Toledo Oxblood, Viva Glam 1, Velvet Teddy.

Matte: Please Me, Mehr, Pink Plaid, Kinda Sexy, Nouvelle Vogue, Flat Out Fabulous.

Matte swatches in order of how they are shown above.

Amplified Creme: Blankety, Brick-O-La, Craving, Toying Around, Dark Side, Pedro Lourenco Ruby. 

Amplified Creme swatches in order of how they are shown above.

Satin: Viva Glam II, Twig, Brave, Pink Nouveau, Rebel.

Satin swatches in order of how they are shown above.

Lustre: Free As A Butterfly, Royal Ball, Lovelorn, Plumful

Patisserie, Politely Pink, Sweetie, Milan Mode

Lustre swatches in order of how they are shown above.

Cremesheen/ Frost/ Glaze: Pure Zen, Creme Cup, Peach Blossom, Costa Chic, Hue, Angel.

Cremesheen, Frost and Glaze swatches in order of how they are shown above.

I have a really hefty post for all of you today and one that I have been meaning to do for a long time. As you can see by the extent of the photos above, I love a good MAC lipstick. I would even go as far as saying that I have a small addiction to buying these bullets and am convinced that one day I will own a room full! (I dream big, I know). I figured it would be slightly extensive to give a run down on each and every shade so instead I thought I'd pick up my favourites from each finish and let you pick your favourites!

Mattes: Velvet Teddy and Flat Out Fabulous are easily my favourite matte lipsticks. I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of Velvet Teddy due to the 'Kylie Jenner' lip craze. Luckily, I picked it up long before so never had a struggle buying it! This is a really lovely neutral that has a little extra something in comparison to other nudes. The matte formula makes this extra pretty and lasts for hours and hours on my lips. Flat Out Fabulous is not usually something I'd pick up but I have found it to be the perfect bold lip for my pale skin. The purple-toned pink looks absolutely fabulous for a night out and I seriously have loved wearing it and felt confident wearing it also! If you after something bold but beautiful, I suggest checking this out!

Amplified: Blankety and Dark Side are both two of the most worn lipsticks in my collection. Blankety is similar to Velvet Teddy but slightly more muted and with a creamier looking finish. This is a perfect throw on nude for day-to-day. Whenever I'm feeling a little meh, I always throw this on as I know it'll look fine! Dark Side is a very sentimental product in my collection as it was my first ever MAC lipstick. The really deep purple-red shade is daring but looks a dream. It reminds me slightly of the iconic Rimmel 107 without the matte finish and more of a purple twist. I really don't think this lipstick gets enough credit for how beautiful it is.

Satin: Brave is easily my favourite out of the Satin finishes although I pretty much love and would happily wear every single one of these shades. Again, this lipstick has a lot of hype surrounding it but it is understandable as to why. It's a beige nude with a hint of pink that is easy to wear and can just be thrown on to pull a whole look together. It's even more prettier in person.

Lustre: This formula definitely isn't my favourite of MAC's but I feel with the right colour it can still look gorge. Lovelorn and Plumful are probably my 'opt to' choices. Lovelorn is a great lipstick when you want something safe but not necessarily a nude. The gorgeous pink shade looks subtle on the lips but still adds some colour to my complexion. Similarly, Plumful is great for people who are maybe after an A/W shade but don't want to go too bold. The rosy-plum shade applies sheer on the lips but still looks great. I suggest swatching this next time you're at a MAC counter to really appreciate it in its full beauty.

Miscellaneous: I love every single one of these shades and found it almost impossible to pick my favourites. Yet, Hue and Angel are probably my most worn two in the whole of my lipstick collection. Hue was my first nude as I was after something that was easy to wear and pretty but didn't completely wash me out. This is pale and probably couldn't be universally worn but the pink undertone really makes this stand out for me. I have had so many compliments when wearing this and would definitely say this is my 'everyday shade'. Angel is very similar but is a lot more pink when worn. I have rediscovered my love for this and often find myself opting for it purely because the natural pink really injects some life into my complexion.

MAC lipsticks retail from £15.50 and are easily my go-to brand when I'm after a particular shade. I would love to hear what your favourites are as I am always on the hunt for more!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Guest Post: Beauty Goals Then Vs. Now

A bit of a different post for you all today. I was recently contacted by the lovely Remi, a marketing student by day and an insane fashion and beauty lover by night. She doesn't currently have her own blog but very kindly offered to write a post for Nails And Teapots, so I hope you enjoy it! If you would like to see more from Remi check out her Twitter page here. 

Beauty Goals Then vs. Now

For some strange reason, I have begun noticing all those ‘when did this become hotter than this’ posts all over the web. I have seen them before, but I have never really paid too much attention to them. However, right now I caught myself thinking for a long time about beauty standards and ideals, and how indeed they have changed.

“Weird” beauty

source

Just as things have changed over history, they differ from one culture to the other. I am sure you are familiar with Chinese old ideal of tiny feet, which had generations of women wrapping their feet so tight that they were the size of a cigarette box. And, believe me, nobody would put themselves through such process if it weren’t for the fact that it was considered beautiful. Women of Pa Dong tribe on the Thai/Burmese border put brass rings on their necks to make them long, and girls in Ethiopia scar their bodies and faces to beautify themselves for their future husbands. You find it weird? They find it beautiful.

Body shapes

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Oh, when to even begin with this? Should I mention the impossible standards set by supermodels and the media? Or should I go back in time and think about all those centuries when plump figure was considered the ultimate beauty standard? And all those ideals focused on different things on a body – once it’s the breasts (should they be big or small), other times it’s the waist (the smaller the better), and then we have toned arms, tiny feet, thigh gap and flat stomach in focus (all at different times, of course).

Facial features

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What does it mean to have a beautiful face? Somehow, small nose, full lips and big eyes are generally considered beautiful. When asked about the most common procedures, facial cosmetic surgeons comment that women usually undergo rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery, in contrast to the previous years when, for example, thin eyebrows were one of ideals and many women had them lifted and shaped differently. To be honest, I am thinking about the ‘what goes around comes around’ saying and I wonder if some of the old ideals will be popular again, for example the androgynous look.

Makeup trends

While digging up all these interesting facts and info, I have concluded that some things will never change: eyes and lips on women’s faces will forever be considered beautiful and aimed to emphasize. Now, as we have witnessed ourselves, lipsticks and lip glosses can fight for the position of ‘number one product for the lips this season’, and either eye shadows or eyeliners can be used to emphasize the eyes, but the eyes themselves will always be in focus.

I am not one of those who idealizes the past and who nostalgically thinks about the ‘old days and old ways’. No matter how hard I try I cannot help but believe that these beauty ideal we now firmly believe in, will change as well. And, who knows, maybe we will again find beautiful and attractive certain features which we don’t find now.

I hope you enjoyed this guest post. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Emerveillé

I've been contemplating purchasing one of the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadows (£25) for a while now yet I was reluctant to splash the cash on a product I have only really ever seen online. Luckily, the other day I managed to 'accidentally' find myself at a Chanel counter where I swatched one of these shadows and was completely sold. I am a big lover of cream eyeshadows but often find they only really work well as a base for other powdered shadows as the formulas are often fairly sheer and crease easily. This is most certainly not the case with this little pot of beauty from Chanel.  I picked up the shade Emerveillé, a beautiful natural pink shade that reminds me a lot of MAC's Naked Lunch but bolder and slightly more iridescent. The consistency of this product is incredibly odd and feels sort of mousse-like when touched. The cream-to-powder formula is what enables this product to apply so beautifully on the lid and warrants its amazing lasting power. I originally applied this product expecting to have to pair with a similar toned shadow so I could gage the full beauty of this product but I was so wrong. A couple of swipes of this with my finger on the lid and the colour was opaque, iridescent and lasted all freakin' day! The only thing I regret about this product was not picking up more shades when I was already at the counter. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What's your favourite cream eyeshadow?

March Beauty Favourites 2015

                          

Swatches L-R: (Top photo) S&G Solar Powder, NARS Matte Multiple, Chanel Illusion D'Ombre.

(Bottom photo) Vapour, Phloof, Omega, Quarry, Satin Taupe, Stroke of Midnight.

Back again with another monthly favourites. I am excited to share these with you all as pretty much every single item listed are a new addition to my collection. So lets get straight into it.

First up, the Soap and Glory Solar Powder (£11). Who hasn't heard of this by now? It's seriously raved about all over the blogging/beauty world and it's understandable as to why. I've had this in my collection for a few months now and although I try and circulate my products (the curse of having too many!) I also find myself resorting back to this one as it is actually better than a lot of my pricier alternatives (ahem - NARS Laguna). It's split into two shades where the right, for me, makes a perfect bronzer shade and the left is light enough to work as a great natural contour that is brilliant for my pale skin. It's fairly cheap and cheerful so do check it out. 

Next, the MAC Cinderella Eyeshadow Palette in Stroke of Midnight (£38.50). Of course the month of March bought the hyped up release of the MAC Cinderella collection and I can easily say it is by far my favourite collection from MAC. I wore this palette so much throughout March as the six shades offered endless options of looks and each eyeshadow lived up to the amazing quality of MAC. I am ridiculously happy that I managed to get my hands on this. 

Next up, the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emerveille (£25). I do have a full review coming soon about this little pot of glory that I have been wearing on my lids either alone or in-cooperated into a much more intricate eye look and I seriously cannot get enough. If you're after a long-wearing cream eyeshadow then check out your local Chanel counter - you won't be disappointed. 

Moving on to another gem that has pretty much reached a holy grail level in my books. The NARS Matte Multiple in Altai (£29). I was hesitant to purchase this as I was cautions that the shade would be too dark for my very pale skin but luckily it didn't disappoint. The foolproof application allows for a sharp, concise contour and I am now reluctant to try anything else. This paired with the S&G Solar Powder creates a bronzed/contour daydream that everyone needs to try. 

Finally, the MAC Turquatic (£38.50) fragrance has quickly become one of my all time favourite scents for S/S. I don't know why I waited so long to try this as after one spritz I was sold. If you're looking for something thats fresh and uplifting but still lasts on the skin, please do try and give this a go!

I hope you enjoyed my round up of the products I have been loving throughout the month of March.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What are your favourite products from the past month?